Philippines: CHR leads investigation into torture of detainees
The Commission on Human Rights is investigating claims by two detainees that they had been tortured at Manila police stations
Two detainees who claimed to have been tortured at Manila police stations have positively identified four of their alleged perpetrators, an investigator from the Human Rights Commission has told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
In a lineup at the Manila Police District Station 3, the men—robbery suspects Gerry Diaz, 38, and Rommel Perez, 30—picked out four Blumentritt PCP personnel as the ones who allegedly beat them up using 'yantok' (rattan) stick.
The policeman who allegedly poured hot cooking oil on them remains unidentified.
The CHR, which is leading the probe into the alleged torture, refused to disclose the identities of the policemen.
They are presumed innocent until proven guilty, CHR-National Capital Region special investigator Albert Figueras said.
The CHR investigators, who were accompanied by doctors, declined to say if the initial medical examinations proved that torture did take place.
“But from the naked eye, we saw burn marks on their backs, hematoma on their limbs,” Figueras said.
The CHR will have to weigh the statements of the complainants against the statements of the police and other evidence. The four policemen will be asked to give counteraffidavits to the CHR, the investigators said.
MPD Station 3 commander Superintendent James Afalla said that while the investigation was ongoing, he would recommend that the four policemen be temporarily disarmed and reassigned to the MPD headquarters “under restriction.”
“We’ve cooperated and the policemen have readily surfaced with a lawyer, which is their right,” Afalla said.
“But like I promised, we will not tolerate abuses. If probable cause against [the policemen] is found, we will hold them liable,” he added.
Date: 17 August 2011
